Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Over at my vintage blog, Circle 7-2099 I posed the question of "What is your Vintage Grail?" By "grail" I mean that one special obsession. That material object that you've been drooling over but can't just run out and get anywhere. These are things that are typically pricier and/or harder to track down. So you save and you save and you save until that glorious day when you can proudly say, "I'LL TAKE IT!!!!" For instance, Julieposted on her blog about finally realizing her dream of owning her Grail: a Bern Christmas art piece.

In the world of Pullip, Blythe and BJDs (ball jointed dolls), a "grail" refers to your ultimate "wanted" doll, possibly rare and usually more expensive. For me, my Ultimate Most Wanted Not Necessary To Life But Must Save and Buy One Day Grail is a Zombuki.

"Zombuki, a combination of the words “zombie” and “kabuki,” was a term dreamed up with the help of a friend some time ago. Zombukis are meant to be a hybrid of many styles and cultures (the zombie itself being both alive and dead), able to embody many looks, to be chimeras of the doll world."

The artist, Brigitte, uses her creative magic to turn every day Pullip and Blythe dolls into fabulous original creations. She overhauls the entire doll from hair to eyes to outfit, hand paints them and creates an entire persona for the "Zombuki". Each one is a beautiful work of art and you can see all of them on her site, Zombuki.com.

I was lucky enough to win some Zombuki postcards from her Etsy shop during the Advent giveaway on her blog, Unwed Human Female and boy, you should have seen my Happy Dancin' when I found out I had won! lol It was then that my quest to own my very own Zombuki was born. I decided to use one of the postcards (and probably more in the future) for a canvas project because I found them so inspiring and I'm such a visual person (most creative people are I think) that I decided I would be more diligent in my quest if I had a little something on the wall to remind me what I was saving for, lol.

To begin my project, I used one of these canvases I got for a $1 on clearance at Hobby Lobby a while back. It actually wasn't a blank canvas but a shot of jewelry artwork in the Home department.

Now, if you're the artist of this piece, I apologize for covering it up but poor people need canvas too! LOL So I Gesso'd the crud out of it and then covered it in layers of a sewing pattern which I then added some purple and pink acrylic paint to match the postcard of Kimi, one of Brigitte's Zombukis. I love Kimi, she looks like candy and reminds me of Japanese street fashion (though Brigitte's inspiration was American raves). Remember when America's Next Top Model did that street photo shoot in Japan? There you go! lol Here's my end result:

I used pieces from the Pink Parts, Green and Purple People Eaters mixed media kits from Gauche Alchemy. (Side note: if you have not tried GA's color kits, you so should! They are so affordable and my absolute "go to" when I'm making something! :D) Anyhoo, I loved this little card with the definition of the word "unique" which Zombukis definitely are and thought it was perfect for my project.

I may not be able to get a Zombuki right away or any time soon for that matter but keep an eye on this blog as I will one day write a post entitled "MINE ALL MINE MUWAHAHAHAHAHA!" lol :D

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comments:

Fascinating! I love your canvas and your Zombukis grail. I have to admit to having had different grails at different times in my life - it's amazing how your grail can change - right now I am going through a shedding period and ridding myself of excess items - I read not too long ago that getting rid of things opens you to receiving new things. good luck with your quest!

I happened upon this amazing site that I thought you would LOVE. Its called retrorenovation.com and omg its a detailed guide on everything from paint swatches to select tiles that are readily available but will give your home a retro feel.

Hi Maggi!Just briefly stopping by with my very best wishes for Xmas and the New Year! Can’t tell you how much I’ve missed you & your terrific posts since my last visit - but hope to see you very soon back at my place where I’ve just posted my latest Christmas Lola Lifeline! All the best & see you again soon!

Maggi, thank you for the introduction, it is always very interesting to learn about new form of art. I do not have any idea of what would be my grail, but I will try to come up with one :-). Wishing you the most wonderful pre Christmas weekend!:-)

How have I missed these? The mere fact that you mention zombies and I am won! I will check it all out uno momento.

Secondly, how have I missed your vintage blog? that also will be checked out with a 'how YOU doin'?'

I blame Christmas - it's fried my brain.

I would say my grail was an Alice teddy bear (I'm so easy!) but that was remedied at the gig, however gorgeous as he is, it's not the Alice bear I was lusting after... that was the version released a few years ago (I'm sounding extremely alice geekette now) I also am pining for a custom made Alice rag doll. I have hinted at everyone I know for years and sent links from Etsy to all my family. Alas. No doll for me to cuddle and squish and... um.. admire on a shelf of course. *ahem* You can imagine my joy at receiving my lovely Alice Angel. I'm not obsessed or anything. I'm not. Really.

OTHERWISE other grail type things are - I'd like to do a Suzi Blu class and I'd like some of those Kokeshi dolls and also some blanks *whisper* so I can make an Alice one ;)